Jun 28 Mutahiro | 鶏そば ムタヒロ 2号店

Muta-san apprenticed at Nagi Golden Gai and Gamushara in Hatagaya – both renowned ramen shops – before opening his own place, Mutahiro, in 2011. His lengthy apprenticeships left him well equipped for success. Mutahiro was an instant hit and Muta-san opened his second shop, Tori-Soba Muthiro, in 2012. In 2013, he launched Maze Mutahiro, followed by Kushiage Mutahiro in 2014. He now runs even more shops, almost all in the Kokubunji area. This guy has the Kokubunji ramen game on lockdown. In 2015, he unveiled his first shop in Osaka.

Tori Soba Mutahiro (Muta-san's second shop) is arguably the best of the group. The soup is a medium-dark shoyu, coated in a luscious layer of chiyu (chicken oil). The soup is straight bomb and the best thing about this bowl. The 'hirauchi' noodles – a flat, wide, mostly straight style of noodle – are specially ordered from Nagi Golden Gai's private noodle factory. The toppings are the ramen classics: soft-boiled egg, menma, tori chashu and nori. As is customary at all of the Mutahiro shops, the staff here wears blue denim overalls, straw hats and colorful plaid shirts. Interesting touch.